Astrid
Show Dates: September 1st – October 2nd
Opening Reception:Thursday, September 16th, 5-9pm

On Thursday, September 16, the opening reception for a solo show of work by the artist Astrid will be held from 5:00—9:00PM at Gallery Z.

Astrid was born in Havana, Cuba and came to the US as a teenager. She began her early art education first at Pennsylvania State University and then at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. Returning east, she enrolled at the Rhode Island School of Design, earning a BFA in Sculpture, and later an MFA in Sculpture from Hunter College in New York City.

Astrid has taught sculpture at the University of Rhode Island, Kingston and maintains two studios: one at AS220 in Providence and a summer studio on Cape Cod. She is a member of the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, the South County Art Association of Kingston, RI, and the Newport Art Museum.

Astrid achieved recognition as an installation artist while still a student at RISD. Her grass piece that covered Benefit Street, “Transformation,” is still discussed and often recreated at RISD graduations. For the opening reception at Gallery Z on September 16th, she will create a smaller version of “Transformation.”

For several years, a significant portion of her creative energy has been devoted to her “Unknown Portraits,” drawings characterized by a spontaneous and lively quality. The portraits may appear to be of imaginary people but are actually drawn from her subconscious mind of “real” people she has met in daily life. Some appear grave and forlorn, others bright and beguiling. They form the human landscape. This work has been well received and garnered a number of major awards in juried exhibitions.

Although no particular artist has been a major influence on Astrid’s work, it is, nevertheless, reminiscent of the art of Chinese calligraphy. The work of these artists appears to have been executed with the least amount of effort and little discernable painting, but it is nearly impossible to emulate. Using sumi ink and brushes, her work has a similar integrity of line, brush stroke, and freshness. This is particularly true of her most recent body of work.

Finally, as an artist of Latin American origin, Astrid’s show will join in the Rhode Island Latino Community’s Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15—October 15).

 

This show will run from September 1—October 2. Gallery Z’s 10th anniversary is approaching in January 2011! This marks our 97th exhibit.